WASHINGTON — The next phase of the Dulles Rail Project will cost $2.7 billion — much lower than the previous $3.8 billion estimate that included an above-ground station, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced Tuesday.
Phase two involves building about 11 miles of rail to Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County, in a bid to connect the Washington Metrorail system to the airport.
Bonds backed by toll revenue from the Dulles toll road are expected to pay for the construction.
Phase two was originally expected to cost $3.8 billion, but the plan to build an expensive underground station at the airport was scrapped in favor of a cheaper above-ground plan.
The MWAA must now get approval from its two funding partners, Loudoun and Fairfax counties. By contract, those counties have 90 days to approve the plan, the authority said.
